First we had Super June, now it’s the Octoberfest of Football, with the FFA overseeing over 200 games and more than 18,000 minutes of action this month.

Admittedly the vast majority of the games will take place at the national youth championship for our best under 14s and 15s boys, currently being held Coffs Harbour, but they’re mind-blowing numbers nonetheless.

If all 204 matches were played back-to-back, it would take almost two full weeks. Not even the maddest of us could keep up.

In that respect, it’s probably fair to say the FFA needed a dispute with the Players Football Association over conditions for the Socceroos like Frank Farina needs to see another yellow card issued to one of his old guard (not that many of them are available this week).

Speaking of Farina, his team host the Gold Coast on Sunday. In round one, it was a must-see and much-hyped grudge match.

Now, in the midst of all that is going on around it, and minus stars of the ilk of Gold Coast’s Smeltz and Culina, and all of the Roar’s Ms, Moore, McKay, Murdocca and Miller, some of the lustre has gone.

But it’s still a vital game for both sides, and I’m particularly looking forward to seeing how returning schemers Caravella and McKay influence their sides, whether Miron Bleiberg’s side can relax and play again, and how the returning Young Socceroos DeVere, Oar and Nichols shape up mentally.

The latter, in particular, will need to be nurtured by Farina after an indifferent start to the season and a lacklustre tournament in Egypt.

But before the south Queensland derby there are two blockbusters, tonight’s A-League clash in Melbourne, predicted to attract some 30,000 fans, and tomorrow’s international at the SFS, which should be nudging 40,000.

I’ll be at the latter and can hardly wait, but let’s start with the Melbourne vs Sydney Etihad clash.

Featuring arguably the competition’s two in-form sides, it promises much: Sydney’s discipline, organisation and transition into attack, against the flair of Hernandez, Thompson and Kruse, and overall renewed aggression.

While much was made of their stylistic performance against the Mariners on Monday, particularly the first half display, to my mind the signs were there the week before, where the excellent movement from Brosque and Bridge against Brisbane was only undone by some lax finishing from the latter.

It was no surprise to see Sydney carry on from this round 8 performance, and particularly pleasing for Lavicka would have been the form of the front six. Musialik pulled the strings, McFlynn upped the tempo and Sydney really should have won by a margin of two or more.

The Victory meanwhile are flying. Broxham is doing well in the midfield, the defence, since Muscat came back in, looks in-synch, and Hernandez and Thompson are certainly in the mood, perhaps keen to prove a point to their respective national coaches.

If and how Lavicka deals with Hernandez will be the key in this one, for he undoubtedly has the ability to unlock the tight FC defence with a thunderbolt from deep.

Then there’s Adelaide’s crucial trip to Perth, which features the long-awaited return of Barbiero. The opposition also have a change in central midfield, where Burns is suspended, paving the way for Jamie Coyne to move into the engine.

Fast forward 24 hours and Netherlands friendly promises to be a beauty.

Injuries and impending births may have deprived us of the likes of Van Persie, Affelay, Robben and de Jong, but there’s still plenty of star quality in the likes Sneijder, Babel, Huntelaar, Kuyt, De Zeeuw, Engelaar, Van der Vaart, and young sensation Eljero Elia, who made such an impression as a goal-scoring substitute in the recent qualifier in Scotland.

And with places in South Africa up for grabs, opportunity knocks for those second and third in the pecking order, a point skipper van Bronkhorst emphasised on arrival.

I was fortunate enough to get out to Homebush on Wednesday night for the Oranje’s training session, and the one-touch tempo was excellent. Kuyt was the only player being nursed, and when I asked Liverpool’s marathon man if he would be running out tomorrow, he offered an “I hope so”. So do we Dirk.

As for the first choice Socceroos, with the early focus seemingly around improving their lot off the field, let’s hope Pim Verbeek has got their minds back on the job over the past 24 hours.

With so many off field engagements over the past couple of days, one could be forgiven for forgetting why the Socceroos are home.

There’s little doubt the Dutch friendly provides vital preparation for the more critical Oman Asian Cup qualifier next Wednesday. As regular reader Peter Kandy noted earlier in the week, if our full strength side can’t beat Oman comfortably, then we have some serious problems.

Certainly experienced Frenchman Claude Le Roy will be plotting a Kuwait-style ambush, and any Socceroos slip-up means that by the time of the return trip to Muscat on matchday 4, the gap might be hefty.

With three points a must, it’ll be an anxious time for Socceroos fans in the build up to next Wednesday night, but with plenty of great football in the interim, it should be a brilliant week.

Follow Tony on Twitter @TonyTannousTRBA

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